Voluspa (album)
Encyclopedia
Voluspa is the debut album by American electronic
duo The Golden Filter
, released in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2010 by Brille Records
. Two singles, "Solid Gold" and "Thunderbird", were released in 2009, while a third single, "Hide Me", was released on April 19, 2010.
praised its "motorik futurism, breathy provocativeness, and pogo glowstickerry" and called it "a precious debut". State
felt that the record stands "on the edge of chart-friendly pop and the darker shades of progressive disco" and described it as "a trajectory of icy sharp and mesmeric nu-disco classics from beginning to end". PopMatters
found it "full of character and personality" and noticed that "at its peak, it's bewitching, hypnotic and sexy enough to put steam in your strides". Resident Advisor
described it as "one of those rare dance music albums that actually feels more comfortable listened to at home, by yourself, in a romantic yet solitary mood" and UR Chicago
felt that it is "reveling in emotional abundance and wallowing in coarse electronics that even Olof Dreijer
of The Knife
would be jealous of" and that it is "easily a contender for one of the best [records] of the year".
NME
praised the band for making "disco so sexy and sultry that it almost makes you sticky", but criticized the album for rarely straying from "its glitzy formula". Drowned in Sound
complimented the album for maintaining "a sense of cohesion throughout", but felt that this was done "at the expense of maintaining the listener's interest". Pitchfork Media
described it as "pleasant listening", but noticed that "when left to their own devices", the duo has "difficulty providing their songs with an actual structure". Contactmusic.com
said that the album is "by no means offensive", but felt that "its vagueness falls a little flat and lacking the vibrancy borne out of experimentation" and concluded by stating that "The Golden Filter seem unable to grasp their own".
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
duo The Golden Filter
The Golden Filter
The Golden Filter are an electronic duo formed in New York City in 2008. The band consists of Penelope Trappes and Stephen Hindman...
, released in the United Kingdom on April 26, 2010 by Brille Records
Brille Records
Brille Records is an independent record label based in the UK, which has released work from bands including Whirlwind Heat, Good Shoes, Envelopes, Operator Please, The Bridge Gang and The Knife. It was in partnership with EMI Records UK from August 2005 until February 2008. It was started in 2004...
. Two singles, "Solid Gold" and "Thunderbird", were released in 2009, while a third single, "Hide Me", was released on April 19, 2010.
Critical reception
Voluspa received generally positive reviews from music critics. The FlyThe Fly (magazine)
The Fly is a free music magazine published monthly in the United Kingdom. The magazine is published by the HMV owned MAMA Group.The magazine started as a listings leaflet in Camden, north London, for the Barfly music venue on Chalk Farm Road...
praised its "motorik futurism, breathy provocativeness, and pogo glowstickerry" and called it "a precious debut". State
State (magazine)
State.ie is an Irish website and formerly a monthly music magazine, which launched in March 2008 and folded in January 2009 having published a total of nine issues...
felt that the record stands "on the edge of chart-friendly pop and the darker shades of progressive disco" and described it as "a trajectory of icy sharp and mesmeric nu-disco classics from beginning to end". PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
found it "full of character and personality" and noticed that "at its peak, it's bewitching, hypnotic and sexy enough to put steam in your strides". Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor
Resident Advisor is an online electronic music magazine dedicated to the global dance music scene. The website won a People's Voice award in the 12th Annual Webby Awards in 2008.-Site History:...
described it as "one of those rare dance music albums that actually feels more comfortable listened to at home, by yourself, in a romantic yet solitary mood" and UR Chicago
UR Chicago
UR Chicago is a free, independent, monthly magazine covering regional and national lifestyles and entertainment. The magazine focuses on nightlife, music, theater, art, film, dining, and fashion mainly in the Chicago area. The magazine also offers in-depth feature reporting...
felt that it is "reveling in emotional abundance and wallowing in coarse electronics that even Olof Dreijer
Olof Dreijer
Olof Bjorn Dreijer is a member of the electronica duo The Knife, formed with his sister Karin Dreijer Andersson.Although The Knife very rarely performs live concerts, Olof performs as DJ Coolof in nightclubs across Europe....
of The Knife
The Knife
The Knife are a Swedish electronic music duo from Gothenburg, formed in 1999. The group consists of siblings Karin Dreijer Andersson and Olof Dreijer, who together also run their own record company, Rabid Records. They first received international attention after their song "Heartbeats", covered by...
would be jealous of" and that it is "easily a contender for one of the best [records] of the year".
NME
NME
The New Musical Express is a popular music publication in the United Kingdom, published weekly since March 1952. It started as a music newspaper, and gradually moved toward a magazine format during the 1980s, changing from newsprint in 1998. It was the first British paper to include a singles...
praised the band for making "disco so sexy and sultry that it almost makes you sticky", but criticized the album for rarely straying from "its glitzy formula". Drowned in Sound
Drowned in Sound
DrownedinSound.com or DiS is a UK based music webzine financed by artist management company Silentway . The site is an editorially independent music website.-History:...
complimented the album for maintaining "a sense of cohesion throughout", but felt that this was done "at the expense of maintaining the listener's interest". Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
described it as "pleasant listening", but noticed that "when left to their own devices", the duo has "difficulty providing their songs with an actual structure". Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com
Contactmusic.com is a Leeds UK based entertainment magazine/webzine. The site was launched in April 2000 by a small team and has now expanded to 12 fulltime staff and many freelance contributors from across the globe...
said that the album is "by no means offensive", but felt that "its vagueness falls a little flat and lacking the vibrancy borne out of experimentation" and concluded by stating that "The Golden Filter seem unable to grasp their own".